THE MANDATORY purse bid ordered by the World Boxing Council (WBC) between five division world champion and current NABF super bantamweight champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. and Mexican contender Hugo Ruiz was officially scrapped.
Nonito Donaire Sr. told Cebu Daily News that Top Rank’s Bob Arum will now pit Frenchman Anthony Settoul against his son on July 18 in Macau, China.
“10-rounder non-title bout ilang awayan,” the elder Donaire said.
The bout against Settoul (20-3, 8 KOs) will still give Donaire (34-3, 22 KOs) a crack at a world title, particularly against World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight world champion Scott Quigg of the United Kingdom, should the latter win over challenger Kiko Martinez of Spain on July 18 in Manchester, England.
Donaire is ranked number three in the WBA, number four in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and 11 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) rankings.
Donaire is currently training in Arum’s Top Rank Boxing Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada./REPORTER GLENDALE G. ROSAL